Brutal hazing incidents in the Russian military have prompted public outrage in Russia (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)
20 February 2006 -- Russian news reports say three soldiers have been detained on suspicion they beat a fellow soldier to death.

Soldier Nursullah Dautov died on 13 February in a hospital in Ufa, the capital of Russia's Bashkortostan republic. Witnesses said Dautov had been brought to the hospital with serious injuries two days after he was beaten up by fellow servicemen.

AP quotes the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies as saying the three soldiers who were detained were apparently serving at a military base near Ufa.

There was no independent confirmation of the reports.

Russia's Defense Ministry says 53 servicemen died last month as a result of crimes and accidents. Fourteen of them committed suicide.